Features

Forms follows function- it is this Bauhaus design principle that inspired the elegantly geometric sans serif type Futura. The most influential font design of the Bauhaus era, Futura is beautifully utilitarian.¹ Learn more about Futura

Paul Renner, like Jan Tschichold , wanted types that suited the modern age instead of being revivals from an earlier one. In this, his views were similar to those of the Bauhaus movement, whose ideals he shared and influenced without ever being a member.² Learn more about Paul Renner

American typefounding agglomeration formed in 1892, eventually containing most of the American typefounding industry. In the 1890s, sorting through the libraries that were merged in and deciding what to keep and what to get rid of was handled by Joseph W. Phinney.³ Learn more about American Type Founders

Typographic tidbits

“avenir is intended to be nothing more or less than a clear and clean representation of modern typographical trends, giving the designer a typeface which is strictly modern and at the same time human, i.e., suitably refined and elegant for use in texts of any length,” said Adrian Frutiger of his design for the font.

Adrian Frutiger is considered to be one of the most important type designers of the 20th century and continues to influence typographic communications in the 21st century. He is best known for his sans serifs Univers and Frutiger.

The day Ottmar Mergenthaler demonstrated the first linecasting machine to the New York Tribune in 1886, Whitelaw Reid, the editor, was delighted: "Ottmar," he said, "you've cast a line of type!" The editor's words formed the basis for the company label, and marked the beginning of Linotype's success story.